ARMED anti-riot police had to be called in yesterday to control angry crowds of people who besieged banks and building societies in Harare and Mutare demanding to be allowed to withdraw cash, which was not available virtually at all banks across the country.
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In other cities and towns across the country, Daily News reporters saw long and winding queues at banks and building societies, but there was no crowd trouble as a cash crunch gripping Zimbabwe for the last three months came to the boil this week. Both Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) acting governor Charles Chikaura and Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe president Washington Matsaire could not be reached for comment on the cash crisis, which economists yesterday warned was set to worsen in the days ahead as more workers get paid. As early as 4 am yesterday long queues had formed at several banks in Harare. And by midday anti-riot police had to be summoned to control restive crowds threatening to break into the cash-starved banks and building societies to get money. At a Beverly Building Society branch along Robert Mugabe Road in the capital, baton-wielding anti-riot police could be seen battling to push an angry crowd that was threatening to break into the building society. At Avondale shopping centre in Harare, where several banks are clustered together, police had to fire tear–gas canisters to disperse people who were threatening to storm banks. |